Ria initially had no idea what was happening, only to be greatly surprised when she discovered that Evenel was completely wet.

“Miss!”

She attempted to wipe the moisture that had smeared on Evenel’s disheveled face, but the action was meaningless for someone who was already completely soaked.

“What should we do…”

Ria’s eyes reddened as if she would cry at any moment.

The sudden commotion attracted the passing servants one by one. Even Jena, who had splashed the dirty water, was caught off guard by the unexpected situation.

Who would have thought Evenel would take the hit instead.

Soon a voice filled with mockery broke the silence. The small noise gradually began to grow.

“Look at that mess.”

“She’s utterly pathetic.”

Brushing her wet hair roughly to the back, Evenel first checked on Ria. While not completely soaked, she was in a much better condition than herself.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s not me, it’s you, Miss…”

Interrupting her words, Evenel comfortingly reassured her, then turned her gaze towards the people mocking her.

And without uttering a single word, she simply stared at them, not bothering to hide the animosity in her eyes.

Evenel didn’t cower or run away despite the humiliating situation.

Only then did the murmuring gradually subside, and complete silence returned to the space.

It was at that moment that she slowly opened her mouth.

“Why? It’s amusing, isn’t it? Laugh some more. You’ve succeeded in splashing that dirty water according to your plan, Jena.”

Jena, who was under Evenel’s direct gaze, froze in place. No, an inexplicable fear began to consume her entire body.

“Weren’t you going to ask if it was fun!”

A roar-like voice burst forth from Evenel’s mouth.

Thinking about how hard and frightening it had been for Ria until now, she couldn’t contain her emotions.

Her gaze then turned toward the people who were watching her.

“Ah, is that the case for everyone here? Did you think that I kept quiet because I was scared of your petty antics? Do you want to see what’s really scary? Shall I show you, using Jena as an example?”

As she spoke, Evenel’s hand naturally moved toward the gun at her waist.

She wanted to pull the trigger right then and there, but even without doing so, it would be a clear warning.

If she had realized any later, the one being mocked in front of all these people would have been Ria.

“Why is everyone so quiet? You all were talking plenty just a moment ago.”
The calm she had maintained until now crumbled in an instant, and thoughts she would never normally entertain took over her mind.

The people present there were also at a loss due to the unexpectedly unfolding situation. It was completely different from quietly tolerating the open disregard they had shown before.

Just then, Lia, who had been standing behind, hastily grabbed Evenel’s arm. She then shook her head frantically, as if she had read Evenel’s thoughts.

As if to say, don’t ever do what you’re thinking right now.

“Miss, please calm down.”

They didn’t want any more negative attention directed at her because of this.

With a concerted effort to regain her composure, Evenel withdrew her hand from her waistband.

“Evenel, what is going on…”

Emil, who had belatedly heard the commotion, approached the scene. He looked quite surprised to see a soaked Evenel.

“Ask Jena. She’s the one responsible for putting me in this state. Plus, the other maids also know about it.”

“Is that true?”

Emil’s expression hardened in an instant. This was the palace, and moreover, where the emperor resided. How could such an outrageous act occur here?

“That, that is…”

Unable to respond easily, Jena hesitated, and Evenel sighed. For now, resolving this situation was the priority.

“You should go to your room and wash up first…”

“I’m disappointed in the steward as well.”

Evenel’s icy gaze turned toward Emil. Even he flinched at the coldness in her heterochromatic eyes.

“The steward knew, didn’t he? That Lia was being treated unfairly, even if not in detail.”

Emil’s silence confirmed it.

It was clear that the maids, including Jena, had become so audacious because Emil, their supervisor, had not intervened.

“Would it have come to this if the steward had said just one word?”

Emil had no words to say.

It was as Evenel had said.

He had turned a blind eye to Lia doing unnecessary work, and even to her taking on the tasks of other maids, when he knew she shouldn’t have.

Part of him harbored ill will towards Aodin, so he had rationalized it to himself.

But when Evenel pointed that out so precisely, he couldn’t even meet her eyes.

“I explicitly asked you, didn’t I? To treat Lia the same as everyone else. Was that such a difficult task?”

Emil could only bow his head in response to her sarcastic remark.
Glancing around, no one seemed to be remorseful for their wrongdoings. What made her angrier was that, aside from complaining, there was nothing she could do for Lia.

Evenel didn’t have the power to make them kneel and bow their heads. This fact painfully struck her at that moment.